Radio with silent and audible alerts

ABSTRACT

An alerting device, such as a radio ( 10 ), activates, responsive to the times when an information signal ( 12 ) is received, a silent alert, via a vibrator ( 24 ), during a first predetermined time period, and an audible alert, via a loudspeaker ( 22 ), during a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the first predetermined time period. A radio user can configure the priority and the duration of the silent and audible alerts. The radio ( 10 ) also detect the reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between an accessory  51  to the radio  10 . Responsive to the detection thereof, the radio ( 10 ) activates the audible alert. Thus, the user gains a high degree of confidence that the radio ( 10 ) will activate the proper alert in situations having a wide range of ambient noise levels and distances of the radio relative to the user&#39;s body.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/823,738, filed on Jan. 22,1992 now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to radios, including but notlimited to radios alerting a user of the radio that a call has beenreceived.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many applications radio devices alert a user of the device when acall has been received. Such devices generally produce an audiblealerting signal which can be heard by the user. However, an audiblesignal may produce a disturbance in some places where there is a lowambient noise level, and may not be heard in other places where there isa high ambient noise level. A manual sound level control can be providedto change the level of the sound for different situations. However, sucha manual control is objectionable as the level control may be set to alevel such that the audible alerting signal produces a disturbance or isnot heard.

To eliminate the use of an audible alerting signal in places where thisis objectionable, some radio devices use a silent alert signal, such asthat produced by a vibrating device, so that the user of the radiodevice feels, rather than hears, the alerting signal. This isobjectionable as it is only effective when the radio device is worn onthe body of the user.

Some radio devices may provide both an audible and a silent alert. Amanual control can be provided to alternatively select between theaudible alert and the silent alert for different situations. However,such a control is objectionable as the user may forget that the audiblealert was selected so the audible alert signal produces a disturbance oris not heard, or the user may forget that the silent alert was selectedso the silent alert goes undetected to the user when the radio device isnot worn on the body of the user.

Accordingly, there is a need to insure that the user of a radio devicewill be alerted when a call has been received in a wide range of ambientnoise levels and distances of the radio device relative to the user'sbody.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These needs and others are substantially met by a radio having areceiver for receiving an information signal, a silent alert generator,an audible alert generator, and a processor with an associated timer. Inone embodiment of the present invention, the processor, responsive tothe times when the information signal is received, activates the silentalert during a first predetermined time period, and the audible alertduring a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the firstpredetermined time period.

In another embodiment of the present invention the radio can also detectthe reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between anaccessory to the radio and the radio. Responsive to the detectionthereof, the radio activates the audible alert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio.

FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2 illustrate a decision flow diagram executed by theradio of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a wireless communication device,such as a radio 10, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. For the radio 10 to receive a call, a radio frequencyinformation signal 12 is coupled from an antenna 14 to a receiver 16.The receiver 16 may be of conventional design and may operate at a radiofrequency in a range of radio frequencies used for this purpose. Thereceiver 16 provides a received signal at line 18 to a processor 20 attimes when the information signal 12 has been received. The processor 20responds to the received signal at line 18 to alert a user of the radiothat a call has been received.

The radio 10 alerts the user that a call has been received in a varietyof ways depending upon the optional alert features enabled or disabledby the user. The processor 20 may alert the user via an audible alertdevice, such as a loudspeaker 22, or a silent alert device, such as avibrator 24. To alert the user via the loudspeaker 22, the processor 20produces an audible alert signal at line 28 to activate the loudspeaker22 via an amplifier 30. The processor 20 may enable or disable theamplifier 30 via an audible alert control signal at line 32. To alertthe user via the vibrator 24, the processor 20 produces a silent alertsignal at line 34 to activate the vibrator 24. A display 26 is coupledto the processor 20 to accept data messages after the user acknowledgesthe alert or if the user is not able to acknowledge the alert. An inputdevice, such as a keypad 38, may be used by the user to select thepreferred type of alert.

Optionally, the present invention can be incorporated into a two-wayradio by including a transmitter 40 and an antenna switch to selectivelycouple the antenna 14 to either the receiver 16 or the transmitter 40.In this way, voice and data messages may be provided to the transmitter40 from the processor 20 to be broadcast from the radio 10. Voicemessages may be provided to the processor 20 from a microphone 42 via aninput amplifier 44.

Power is typically supplied to the radio 10 via an integral powersupply, such as an integral battery 46, so the radio 10 may beconveniently carried by the user. In some situations the radio 10 maynot be carried by the user, such as when the radio 10 is electrically ormechanically intercoupled with an accessory to the radio, such as anexternal power supply 51 or a radio holder (not shown). The integralbattery 46 is electrically coupled to the processor 20 via a switch 48.In some situations the external power supply 51, may be used to powerthe radio 10. Two examples of external power supplies 51 may include anexternal battery 50 and a battery charger 54. The radio 10 can detectthe external power supply 51 in a variety of ways.

One way the radio 10 detects the external power supply 51 is bycomparing the voltage supplied by the external power supply 51 againstthe maximum voltage supplied by the integral battery 46. For example,the maximum voltage of the integral battery 46 is 7.5 V, and the typicalvoltage of the external battery 50 and the battery charger 54 is 9.5 Vand 9.0 V, respectively. Thus, when the radio 10 detects a typicalvoltage of the external power supply 51 (9.5 V or 9.0 V) greater thanthe maximum voltage of the integral battery 46 (7.5 V), the presence ofthe external power supply 51 is detected.

As a two-way radio, the radio 10 may be used with the integral battery46 as a portable radio or may be used in conjunction with the externalbattery 50, such as a mobile vehicle battery, as a mobile radio. Thus, aradio user may conserve the life of the integral battery 46 whileoperating the radio 10 as a mobile radio. The external battery 50 iselectrically coupled to the processor 20 directly and via a forwardbiased diode 52. When the external battery 50 is electrically coupled tothe radio 10, a switch 48 is open circuited to decouple the integralbattery 46 and the radio 10. When the external battery 50 is notelectrically coupled to the radio 10, the switch 48 is short circuitedto electrically couple the integral battery 46 to the radio 10.

When the power available to the radio 10 from the integral battery 46 islow, the battery charger 54 may be electrically coupled to the radio 10in parallel with the integral battery 46 to charge the integral battery46 while the integral battery 46 is electrically coupled to the radio10. The radio 10 can receive calls when the radio 10 is electricallycoupled to the battery charger 54.

Conventional radios can provide a manual control to alternatively selectbetween the audible alert and silent alert to alert the user in mostsituations. For example, if the radio 10 is worn on the body of the userand the user is in a quiet environment where the audible alert coulddisturb others or in a loud environment where the audible alert couldnot be heard, the user would select the silent vibratory alert.Furthermore, when the user is in situations where wearing the radio 10is not desirable, such as when swimming, charging the integral battery46, or coupled to an external battery 50, the user would select theaudible alert. However, there are some situations when the selectedalert would be improper if the user does not remember to manually changethe selected alert.

The present invention contemplates that the radio 10 may be used in avariety of situations having a wide range of ambient noise levels andradio distances relative to the user's body. For example, the user hasselected the silent alert so as not to disturb others in a meeting andthen intercouples the radio 10 with the accessory to the radio 10, suchas the external power supply 51 without manually selecting the audiblealert. A call received by the radio 10 while coupled to the externalpower supply 51 is likely to go undetected to the user since the radio10 would not be on the body of the user. As another example, if the userhas selected the audible alert while wearing the radio 10 and then movesto a noisy environment, a call received by the radio 10 in the noisyenvironment may go undetected to the user. Generally, conventionalradios require the user to manually update the alert selection as thesituation changes. Other examples of an improper alert activated by theradio 10 may be readily perceived by the reader.

According to the present invention, the radio 10 activates the silentalert during a first predetermined time period and the audible alertduring a second predetermined time period at times when the informationsignal 12 is received. The first and the second time period areexclusive of each other so that both the silent and audible alerts arenot activated at the same time, thus increasing power drain from theintegral battery 46. According to the present invention from anotherperspective, the radio 10 switches between the activation of the silentalert and the audible alert, responsive to an elapsed predetermined timeperiod during times when the information signal 12 is received. Onealert type is activated until the predetermined time period has elapsed,then the other alert type is activated.

The present invention allows the user to configure the radio 10, via thekeypad 38, to activate the alert in a variety of ways. The duration ofthe first and the second predetermined time periods may be varied. Thesilent and audible alert may comprise a continuous alert or a periodicalert (i.e. alert cycles). Either the silent or the audible alert may beselected as the primary alert that is activated first when a call isreceived. For example, the user can configure the radio 10 to activatethe silent alert for two cycles then switch to the audible alert untilthe user answers the call or until the system in which the radio 10operates stops sending the information signal 12 (i.e. ending the call).A primary advantage of the present invention is that the radio 10 mayalert the user in a variety of situations having a wide range of ambientnoise levels and distances of the radio 10 relative to the user's body.Thus, the user gains a high degree of confidence that a call will not bemissed because the alert type was not changed when the situationchanged.

According to the present invention, the radio 10 can also detect whenthe accessory to the radio 10, such as the external power supply 51 orthe holder (not shown) is electrically or mechanically intercoupled,respectively, with the radio 10. Upon detection, the radio 10 willactivate an audible alert at times when the information signal 12 isreceived even if the silent alert was selected by the user. After theexternal power supply 51 is decoupled from the radio 10, the silentalert may again be activated by the radio 10 when the information signal12 is received. The radio 10 activates the audible alert when the silentalert was selected so the user does not have to remember to manuallyswitch to the audible alert. Here again, the user gains a high degree ofconfidence that a call will not be missed because the alert type was notchanged when the situation has changed.

FIGS. 2-1 and 2-2 illustrate a decision flow diagram executed in theradio 10 of FIG. 1. A conventional timer (not shown) associated with theprocessor 20 regulates the rate at which the decisions are executed. Atblock 56, a decision is made to determine if the information signal 12has been received. If the information signal 12 has not been received,no action is taken. If the information signal 12 has been received, adecision is made at block 58 to determine if the accessory to the radio10, such as the external power supply 51, is electrically coupled to theradio 10. If the external power supply 51 is coupled to the radio 10,the radio 10 operates in a unique manner by activating an audible alertat block 60 regardless if the silent alert was selected by the useruntil the call is answered or ended at decision block 62. Upon answeringor ending the call at decision block 62, the radio 10 continues withconventional call processing at block 64. Thus, user will advantageouslyreceive an audible alert when the radio 10 is intercoupled to theaccessory to the radio 10 regardless if the silent alert was selected.

If, at decision block 58, the external power supply 51 is not coupled tothe radio 10, a decision is made at block 64 to determine if the radio10 is configured to alternatively select between the activation of thesilent alert and the audible alert. If the decision is negative, theradio 10 operates in a conventional manner by activating the selectedalert at block 66 until the until the call is answered or ended atdecision block 68. Upon answering or ending the call, the radio 10continues with conventional call processing at block 64.

If, at decision block 64, the decision is positive, the radio 10operates in a novel manner. The radio 10 alerts the user to an receivedinformation signal 12 by activating a primary alert for a firstpredetermined number of cycles, and then activates a secondary alert fora second predetermined number of cycles or until the call is answered orended. The primary alert represents the alert type selected foractivation by the radio 10 first, and then followed by the secondaryalert selected for activation by the radio 10. Thus, the user mayconfigure the radio 10 to activate the silent alert followed by theaudible alert, or the audible alert followed by the silent alert.

A counter variable, X, representing the number of alert cycles activatedby the primary or secondary alert, is initialized to zero at block 70.At decision block 72, a decision is made if the number of alert cyclesactivated by the primary alert is equal to the number of primary alertcycles desired by the user before activating the secondary alert. If thedecision at block 72 is negative, one primary alert cycle is activatedat block 74 and the counter variable, X, is incremented at block 76. Atblock 78, a decision is made to determine if the call was answered orended. If the decision is positive, the radio 10 continues withconventional call processing at block 64. If the decision is negative,the decision flow continues to block 72 to again compare number of alertcycles activated by the primary alert to the number of primary alertcycles desired by the user before activating the secondary alert. Thus,the radio 10 will activate the primary alert for a user specified numberof cycles until the call is answered, ended or the number of cyclespredetermined by the user has elapsed.

After the radio 10 has activated the predetermined number of alertcycles, the radio 10 then reinitializes the counter variable, X, to zeroat block 77 to begin counting the secondary alert cycles. At decisionblock 79, a decision is made if the number of alert cycles activated bythe secondary alert is equal to the number of secondary alert cyclesdesired by the user before muting the secondary alert. If the decisionis positive at block 79, the secondary alert is muted at block 83. Whilethe secondary alert, is muted, the call remains active until the call isanswered or ended at block 85. Muting the secondary alert after apredetermined number of cycles offers at least one advantage. Forexample, the primary silent alert may be activated for two cycles andthen the secondary audible alert for only one cycle. Only one secondaryaudible alert cycle would be enough to alert a user to a call if theradio 10 was not on the user's body, but not overly disturbing to othersif the call could not be answered immediately. When the call is answeredor ended at block 85, conventional call processing continues at block64.

If the decision is negative at block 79, the secondary alert isactivated for one cycle at block 80 and the counter variable, X, isincremented at block 81. At block 82, a decision is made to determine ifthe call was answered or ended. If the decision is positive, the radio10 continues with conventional call processing at block 64. If thedecision is negative, the decision flow continues to block 79 to againcompare number of alert cycles activated by the secondary alert to thenumber of secondary alert cycles desired by the user before muting thesecondary alert. Thus, the radio 10 will activate the secondary alertfor a user specified number of cycles until the call is answered, endedor the number of cycles predetermined by the user has elapsed whereinthe secondary alert is muted.

Therefore, the user no longer needs to remember whether the silent alertor the audible alert was selected when a call has been received. A radio10 activates silent and audible alerts, one at a time, at times when acall is received, and has audible alert priority over a preselectedsilent alert when the radio is intercoupled with an accessory to theradio 10. This radio feature gives the user a high degree of confidencethat a call will be received in situations having a wide range ofambient noise and distances of the radio relative to the user's body.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio for communicating radio frequency (RF)call signals comprising: an antenna for receiving a first RF call signaland transmitting a second RF call signal; a transmitter coupled to theantenna for generating the second RF call signal; a receiver coupled tothe antenna for receiving the first RF call signal; a first generatorfor periodically generating, when enabled, a silent alert for a firstpredetermined number of cycles, wherein each cycle of the firstpredetermined number of cycles includes a first time period when thesilent alert is generated followed by a second time period when thesilent alert is not generated; a second generator for periodicallygenerating, when enabled, an audible alert for a second predeterminednumber of cycles, wherein each cycle of the second predetermined numberof cycles includes a first time period when the audible alert isgenerated followed by a second time period when the audible alert is notgenerated; and a processor coupled to the receiver for enabling thefirst generator when the first RF call signal is received, and, after atleast one of the first predetermined number of cycles, enabling thesecond generator.
 2. The radio according to claim 1, further including abattery for powering the radio.
 3. The radio according to claim 1,further including a display for displaying at least one of the first andthe second RF call signals.
 4. The radio according to claim 1, furtherincluding a speaker coupled to the receiver for emitting the first RFcall signal.
 5. The radio according to claim 1, further including amicrophone coupled to the transmitter for generating call signals. 6.The radio according to claim 1, wherein the silent alert is a vibratingalert.
 7. A radio for communicating radio frequency (RF) call signalscomprising: an antenna for receiving a first RF call signal andtransmitting a second RF call signal; a keypad for generating datasignals; a transmitter coupled to the keypad and the antenna and beingresponsive to the data signals for generating the second RF call signal;a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving the first RF callsignal; a first generator for periodically generating, when enabled, asilent alert for a first predetermined number of cycles, wherein eachcycle of the first predetermined number of cycles includes a first timeperiod when the silent alert is generated followed by a second timeperiod when the silent alert is not generated; a second generator forperiodically generating, when enabled, an audible alert for a secondpredetermined number of cycles, wherein each cycle of the secondpredetermined number of cycles includes a first time period when theaudible alert is generated followed by a second time period when theaudible alert is not generated; and a processor coupled to the receiverfor enabling the first generator when the first RF call signal isreceived, and, after at least one of the first predetermined number ofcycles, enabling the second generator.
 8. The radio according to claim7, further including a battery for powering the radio.
 9. The radioaccording to claim 7, further including a display for displaying atleast one of the first and the second RF call signals.
 10. The radioaccording to claim 7, further including a speaker coupled to thereceiver for emitting the first RF call signal.
 11. The radio accordingto claim 7, further including a microphone coupled to the transmitterfor generating call signals.
 12. The radio according to claim 7, whereinthe silent alert is a vibrating alert.
 13. A radio for communicatingradio frequency (RF) call signals comprising: an antenna for receiving afirst RF call signal and transmitting a second RF call signal; atransmitter coupled to the antenna for generating the second RF callsignal; a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving the first RFcall signal; a first generator for periodically generating, whenenabled, a silent alert for a first predetermined number of cycles,wherein each cycle of the first predetermined number of cycles includesa first time period when the silent alert is generated followed by asecond time period when the silent alert is not generated; a secondgenerator for periodically generating, when enabled, an audible alertfor a second predetermined number of cycles, wherein each cycle of thesecond predetermined number of cycles includes a first time period whenthe audible alert is generated followed by a second time period when theaudible alert is not generated; and a processor coupled to the receiverfor enabling the second generator when the first RF call signal isreceived, and, after at least one of the second predetermined number ofcycles, enabling the first generator.
 14. The radio according to claim13, further including a battery for powering the radio.
 15. The radioaccording to claim 13, further including a display for displaying atleast one of the first and the second RF call signals.
 16. The radioaccording to claim 13, further including a speaker coupled to thereceiver for emitting the first RF call signal.
 17. The radio accordingto claim 13, further including a microphone coupled to the transmitterfor generating call signals.
 18. The radio according to claim 13,wherein the silent alert is a vibrating alert.